Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)

Lack of good storyline.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

When all is said and done, the picture is pretty much an all out cowboys and Indians story, though the cowboys are replaced by the U.S. Cavalry. As in the majority of these Westerns of the Fifties, Native American characters are portrayed by white actors, an issue I don't particularly have a problem with like a lot of folks seem to. At the time, Rock Hudson would not have been such a well known personality, so his casting here seemed OK. However with the hindsight of over sixty years since the film was made, his celebrity was a bit of a distraction for this viewer.I'll say this though, even though Hudson was cast for his physique and manly good looks, you can't deny one aspect of his role as Taza, Son of Cochise. Twice in the picture he mounted his horse by virtually high jumping onto the animal's back from a standing position. The first was right after burying his father Cochise (Jeff Chandler), the second time was while preparing to lead his warriors against the Cavalry. The move is actually pretty cool, watch for it.Speaking of Chandler's Cochise, in his death scene he didn't appear to be much older than his sons Taza and Naiche (Rex Reason). So much so that I had to check; at the time of filming, Chandler would have been about seven years older than Hudson and ten years older than Reason. Not a big deal since he wasn't on screen that long, but it was noticeable nevertheless.As far as the story goes, Taza plans to follow his father's dying wish that he keep the peace with the White Man, but events and a reluctant brother thwart his efforts to reign in Mogolan Apache Chief Geronimo (Ian MacDonald) and his prospective father-in-law Grey Eagle (Morris Ankrum). Moving his tribe to the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Taza eventually sides with his native brothers to oppose the Army after General George Crook (Robert Burton) refuses to authorize reservation police to pursue and deal with Geronimo.There's a fairly exciting battle between the Apaches and the Cavalry to close out the story, but if you keep a close eye on things, you'll note a couple of filming errors. Captain Burnett (Gregg Palmer) shoots an Apache at the top of a cliff who clutches his chest, but when the Indian's hands fall away there's no hint of a bullet wound or blood. The same thing occurs when Burnett shoots Grey eagle shortly after. That's probably something you'd call an unforced error, or saving a few bucks on make-up.

This movie is well-famed and Rock Hudson looked great ( as he always did even to non-gay men). The long hair and darkened skin make him an awesome looking Indian. His Features are White but this was more often the case in Hollywood movies about Indians than roles of Indians played by real Indians. It is Ironic that Taza's son became an actor and acted in early westerns.. I learned this fact by IMDb. I shall use it in my future writing.No-- It took 45 yrs to force Geronimo to Surrender and his legend is founded largely on the fact that he was never caught but due to many of his own warriors becoming scouts, he was forced to surrender. It is sad but in a very harsh way--just punishment that these scouts were stripped of their roles as Scouts and sent to the same prison where Geronimo was. They served much longer sentences than what they were given. This is yet another unfairness done to the APACHE and to Geronimo. Who died in his mid-eighties from alcoholism and from falling from his horse on the way home from a saloon. HE wound up in a irrigation ditch all night and caught pneumonia as a result and died shortly after. Not a fitting end for a man that could raise the back of the hair on many a settler and many a cavalry soldier who had to think about his chances of surviving a battle with him. He almost beat the US army--but alcoholism is a disease that killed far more Indians than cavalry soldiers ever did. The Native American had NO time in their history to develop a resistance to the effects of alcohol---both the immediate effects and the long-term effects shortened the lives of most Native Americans who drank it. In the much later movie GERONIMO starring Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall, the camera takes us on the long train ride to Florida in the end of the movie. Some Apaches who did not become traitors to Geronimo were being chastised by loyal warriors and Geronimo reminds them that they are so few that it would be good for them to learn to get a long- -he reminds them that all they have is each other.Geronimo was a name that leaps off of the pages even now--- but in his lifetime-- anything written about him was read immediately because it was usually news about his ongoing exploits. It is very sad that they allow the mistake of saying that he was captured to be stated as truth among his own people. Because the fact that he was not captured or killed even though the forces used to find and arrest or kill him were massive, is a testimonial to the skill of the Apache and to Geronimo himself. I believe the final number that surrendered was under 100. However, I would not want to be a settler and live anywhere Near where that 100 Apache were running free. They were intelligent, skilled warriors and Geronimo has been called a tactical genius. Since he was NEVER captured-- that must be true.I must clarify: I do not believe that Geronimo Was EVER actually Captured-- He did surrender twice and after the second surrender, he was sent to prison in Florida. He was treated with respect by white soldiers with high level rank and other Apache though that respect from White Generals did deteriorate, he was NEVER just dismissed by his peers. This movie shows that happening again and again. This is tragic for the Apache was never really conquered and to say that he was, cheats him of the truth. Entire Armies were sent against them but they were NOT actually beaten in the common sense of the word. IF I was an Apache-- I would want that fact to remain clear and would be angered by a sloppy screenplay from Hollywood that disputes the truth of the Apache's wartime accomplishments. They have never been equalled. Warren E.Justice

Taza, Son of Cochise is directed by Douglas Sirk and written by Gerald Drayson Adams and George Zuckerman. It stars Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Gregg Palmer, Rex Reason and Morris Ankrum. A Technicolor production with the Music scored by Frank Skinner and cinematography by Russell Metty.In 1872 the long bitter war fought between the United States Cavalry troops and Apache bands led by Cochise came to an end. The peace treaty signed by Cochise and General Howard brought peace to the Arizona Territory. But three years later the mighty leader of the Chiricahua Apaches grew ill and come to the end of his days........the torch was passed to his first born son, Taza, who wants to follows his father's ideals and peace brokering ways. His second born son, Naiche, however, has different ideas, as does the mighty Geronimo.....Douglas Sirk's only venture into the Western realm was originally shot in 3D around the gorgeous Arches National Monument Park. Following the pro-Indian theme that was becoming a feature of 1950s Westerns, it's a film that suffers primarily because of the casting of none Native Americans in the important character roles. Which is a shame because it's a gorgeous production that features action scenes full of vim and vigour. Story isn't out of the ordinary and the dialogue is often clunky as the Indian chatter is of the Hollywoodisation kind. Yet picture is never dull, the interest is always held as Taza attempts to hold on to peace for his people, whilst simultaneously he's trying to court the hand of Oona (Rush) against the wishes of her father, the war mongering Grey Eagle (Ankrum).Hudson, badly cast as he is, can't be faulted for commitment in the title role. He clearly feels at ease working for Sirk (it was a coupling that would work together on a total of 9 movies), and at least he has the physicality for such a character. Unlike Ian MacDonald as Geronimo, who looks too old, is too staid and sticks out like a sore thumb. Russell Metty's photography is top draw, both in capturing gorgeous frames of the locale and in choice of colour lenses. Skinner provides a breezy, if standard Indian tinted Western musical score, and Sirk's direction is simple and effective with only minimal 3D moments part of the action. It's hardly an essential picture in the pantheon of pro-Indian Westerns, but it's better than it has a right to be, and with Pegasus' DVD release providing a lovely print, this is worth seeking out if only for Russell Metty's fine work. 6.5/10

Taza was originally in 3-d. 3-d was a novelty that was to bring back the TV viewers, an there are shots that fit the specialized view, to surprise the movie goer. Seen it once it's a surprise after that it's a distraction. Have to wait for holograms to surround you ala "real life". Rock takes on responsibility after the brief time of Jeff Chandler on screen. The apaches seem to actually be in typical apache "wickiups", an in the Arizona desert. He knows that the whites must be Accomodated and his people must accept the changes coming whether they want them or not. there is a lot of action, including a terrific apache vs. cavalry massacre, led by taza, so he's no wimp, an just as much a warrior as his father. An investment for a long non-stock footage fight, showed that heyday of the western included plenty of shooting and a massacre not hinted at but shown. The bad apaches kill some settlers, an here is a typical 3-d arrow coming out of the screen effect. eventually taza becomes a respected and accepted Indian chief , an foils the bad Indians who won't bend with the winds of change. It was very sympathetic to the Indians but had a large scale Indians vs. cavalry scene for the action and danger of the west,showing Indians were a power to be reckoned with. I am part Shawnee and have to set this as one of several 50's films that was sympathetic to the Indians and the their situations plus lotsa shooting an whooping, cause the Indians fought, as well as negotiated. not quite in the "john ford" category or near the movie experience of "the Searchers", but well worth the price of admission in the 50's and will entertain today. Rock was learning his craft an carried the movie well as a non-Indian acting in a good part.